This is for vending machines that accept paper bills. Very often, they are fussy about the condition of the bill and will reject overly wrinkled specimens. The bill press is a small device located near the vending machines that will quickly steam/heat press the
wrinkles out of the bill, making it suitable for vending machine use without fear of rejection.

The user has to do his/her part and ensure that the corners are properly unfolded before pressing, of course.

An additional halfbaked touch would be to charge for the use of the bill press. ($1 of course, bills only.)

Obviously not a problem in countries that have gone to coin for low denominations.

DrSealy, I thought it went without saying that the last sentence implied that those countries had gone more or less exclusively to coin. The US has always had some form or another of dollar coin, and it's never caught on. Picky bastard.

If you want to know the ultimate trick for bill acceptors, here it is: Although gross, it works about 90 percent of the time. spit on the top third of the bill. Spread it around real good. I swear i'm not making this up.

My last sentence which actually isn't my last sentence isn't my last sentence because it is instead a parenthetical observation to the admins, and therefore not actually part of the idea, and therefore, subject to deletion at such time as the aforementioned admins create a vending machine category where this idea can be then relocated.

(FJ... if watermelancholy reads your ideas on his new computer, will he be seeing a Farmer in the Dell?)

Plastic bills get much less crinkly and vending machines
are less likely to reject them. They are also more durable
and can incorporate improved anti counterfeiting
measures. Different coloured plastic bills make it much
harder to confuse different currency denominations.

In days gone by, so I am given to understand, staff in many of the more correct gentlemen's clubs in London would remove the banknotes of a member who was staying overnight, and replace them with new ones.

An idea that seemed dumber than a bag of hammers at first glance but no, hey--build the press into your money-keeper, so's after it has been stashed there for a while, it comes out pressed! Assuming that "a while" has any basis in reality for the user. This is the sort of invention that requires almost no material, claims to solve a problem, and can be designed, manufactured, marketed and ditched in the month or two that such ideas are bankable. Call Ronco! Get a croissantamatic for this idea pronto!

-Or-

Fold the bill in half longitudinally, then unfold it. Usually fixes it.

//a press for adding braille to US currency. Not sure if that would be legal, though// -- You mean like a machine that blind people have at home to mark their money? Probably illegal, but if anyone gives you trouble start the discrimination thing.